Gregorio del Pilar-class frigate

Gregorio del Pilar-class frigate
BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15)
Class overview
Name:	Gregorio del Pilar class Frigate
Builders:	Avondale Shipyards, USA
Operators:	Philippine Navy
In service:	2011 to present
Active:	1
Laid up:	1
General characteristics y
Class & type:	Gregorio del Pilar class
Type:	Frigate
Displacement:	3,250 tons
Length:	378 ft (115 m)
Beam:	43 ft (13 m)
Draft:	8.75 ft (2.67 m)
Propulsion:	Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement 2 × Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines, each producing 3,500 shp (2,610 kW) Total diesel engine output: 7,000 shp (5,220 kW), and 2 × Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines, each producing 18,000 shp (13,400 kW) Total gas turbine output: 36,000 shp (26,800 kW)
Speed:	29 knots (54 km/h)
Range:	14,000 nautical miles (25,900 km)
Endurance:	45 Days
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 × RHIB
Complement:	80
Sensors and processing systems:	Raytheon/Furuno AN/SPS-73 navigation and surface search radar (on PF-15) Kelvin Hughes MantaDigital X/S-band surface search and navigational radar (on PF-16) Furuno FAR-28X7 series navigation radars Sperry Mk. 92 Mod. 1 Fire Control System
Armament:	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm Mk. 75 dual purpose gun 1 × Mk. 38 Mod 0 chain gun (on PF-15) 2 × Mk. 16 20mm Oerlikon autocannons (on PF-15) 6 × M2 Browning 12.7mm/50 caliber machine guns (on PF-15) 2 × Loral Hycor Mk. 36 6-barrelled Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) decoy launchers
Aircraft carried:	1 × BO-105C (on PF-15)

The Gregorio del Pilar class is a ship class of two frigates currently in service of the Philippine Navy, and are currently its largest class of naval combatants in its fleet. These ships were formerly used by the US Coast Guard as Hamilton class high endurance cutters.

Design

The ship was designed with a high level of habitability and provides fairly comfortable accommodations, including air conditioning.

Propulsion

The Gregorio del Pilar class are the first Philippine military vessels to employ the now common shipboard application of aircraft gas turbine jet engines with the use of controllable pitch propellers. The class are equipped with two 18,000 horsepower (13,000 kW) Pratt & Whitney gas turbines and can propel the ship at speeds up to 28 knots (52 km/h). The class also has two 3,500 horsepower (2,600 kW) Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, capable of driving the ship economically at 17 knots (31 km/h) for up to 14,400 nautical miles (26,700 km) without refueling. A retractable/rotatable bow propulsion unit provides maneuverability in tight situations.

Armaments

Prior to turn-over to the Philippine Navy, the ship was armed with a Mk.75 Oto Melara 76 mm Compact main gun, two Mk.38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun at midships, and a Phalanx CIWS system aft. The CIWS and chain guns were removed prior to its turn-over, with the Mk.75 gun remaining.

Flight Support

The Gregorio del Pilar class has a flight deck and hangar capable of handling helicopters. Currently, a BO-105 light surveillance helicopter is assigned to BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

Future Upgrades

The Philippines reportedly ordered at least two new Mk. 38 Mod. 2 25mm chain guns, and are expected to be installed on both ships of the class.

It was also reported that the Philippine Navy will be getting sophisticated radar system capable of detecting and tracking surface threats, a Harpoon anti-ship missile system, and torpedo decoy systems. This would be purchased from the United States possibly under a government-to-government deal.

Ships in Class

Bow number	Ship name	Launched	Commissioned	Service	Status
PF-15	BRP Gregorio del Pilar	18 December 1965	14 December 2011	Philippine Navy Patrol Force	Active
PF-16	BRP Ramon Alcaraz	1 October 1966	no date announced	Philippine Navy Patrol Force	For dry-docking prior to commissioning

Gallery

BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) during a PASSEX with USS Reuben James (FFG-57) on July 2011.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) during its hand-over to the Philippine Navy

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